Estill Voice Training
Estill Voice Training (EVT) is a revolutionary model of vocal function that helps add strength, clarity, and character to your voice through simple exercises. Based on the research of world-renowned voice scientist and educator Jo Estill.
EVT turns everyday vocal activities into ‘Figures’ (or exercises) that empower athletic control and artistic expression.
EVT promotes body awareness and mindfulness to give you the confidence that your voice will always be ready to respond to any challenge you may face in performance and daily life.
Benefits of Estill Voice Training
- Replaces mystery with knowledge
- Reduces performance anxiety and promotes confidence
- Empowers students to make choices
- Provides vocal variety for performance and daily living
- Leads to a balance of vocal health and aesthetic freedom
Jo Estill separated voice training into three disciplines
Craft
Craft encompasses everything of which the voice is capable.
This stage is all about learning the structures that contribute to sound and gaining conscious, deliberate control of them.
Artistry
Artistry deals with how you apply the craft elements to your communication; be it a dramatic performance, musical theatre, sales, presentation skills, lecturing or customer service call.
Performance Magic
Performance Magic (or Metaphysics) is the experience performing, of becoming one with your audience; the rare, breath-taking moments when you feel truly connected and understood.
EVT Level One and Two courses focus on Craft as the foundation for every vocal task. The voice you use to sing is the same voice that chats with friends and shouts for joy. When you master the basic movements of healthy vocal function, you unlock endless possibilities for Artistry and opportunities for Performance Magic!
Training & Certification Pathways
Level One and Two Courses
These courses take place either over a series of weekly sessions or in an intensive 4-5 day workshop either online, in-person or as a hybrid of online/in-person attendees.
These workshops are structured with the first half as a lecture to introduce the anatomical element on which we are focussing, followed by a practise group facilitated by either an Estill Master Trainer (EMT) or an Estill Mentor Course Instructor (EMCI).
Some groups may be run by an EMT-C (Estill Master Trainer Candidate) who is in the process of completing their certification.
Estill Figures Proficiency (EFP)
Once you have attended a Level One and Two course, you can train & practise to acheive your Estill Figures Proficiency (EFP) which is the first level of certification in Estill Voice Training & demonstrates that you can achieve each of the Estill Figures for Voice in relative isolation.
You can work with any Estill Master Trainer (EMT) or Estill Mentor Course Instructor (EMCI) in preparation for the proficiency test, but can only be examined by an EMCI such as Leon.
Estill Master Trainer (EMT)
Once you have completed your EFP (see above), you can continue to train to become an Estill Master Trainer (EMT).
This process involves two phases:
Phase One:
- Studying the model with an EMCI
- Written Exam (90% pass rate)
- Estill Master Trainer ‘VoicePrint’ Exam
Phase Two:
- Successful teaching observations of all Estill Figures and Voice Qualities on a mixture of public courses and/or private studio observations.